Ann Arbor Free School DIY Fest to be held this afternoon

While I think I’m a little to old, angry and anti-social to participate personally, I thought that I’d pass along the following information about today’s workshops being offered by the folks at the Ann Arbor Free Skool. For those of you unfamiliar with the whole the free skool movement, here’s how the Ann Arbor group explains it:

The purpose of the Ann Arbor Free Skool is to provide free, accessible and inclusive classes, workshops and events that promote the exchange of ideas, knowledge, alternatives to consumerism & capitalism, empowerment and community through teaching, learning and self-sufficiency.

We are working to create free classes, workshops and skillshares in and around Ann Arbor.

We mean “free” as in lunch and “free” as in speech.

We would love to have you join us as: an organizer, teacher, student, flier putter-upper, info distributor, etc.

The topics covered will include a wide range but often fall under the categories of social justice, sustainability, alternatives to consumer capitalism and liberation.

And here’s the overview on today’s event.

IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY! COME OUT TO DO-IT-YOURSELF FEST (2PM-11PM, LUTHER HOUSE – 1520 HILL ST) TO LEARN SOME NEW SKILLS AND MEET SOME NEW PEOPLE AND DANCE TO SOME BOOTY-SHAKIN’ MUSIC!!!!!!

LIVE PERFORMANCES ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY from Dr. Device, Ghoulie, Future Genies, Patrick Elkins Shadow Puppet Show and more supris…es!!!!

FREE STORE — Bring whatever you have that you think someone else would like (clothes, knick-knacks, food, art, tools, books – anything) and pick up some jazzy “new” treats for yourself. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll take home.

COMMUNITY POTLUCK AND BONFIRE — Bring a dish to pass for The Shared All Day Potluck. We need your help to make this happen. No food = No potluck.

Wondering what the Free Skool experience is like? Check out photos of past classes, events, and DIY Fests at our flickr photo albums. And, Yes! We have video too! You can watch us on YouTube. Just type in “Ann Arbor Free Skool” in the search.

And, here, if you’re curious as to what the event is likely to be like, is footage from last year.

Those of you looking for something a little less social to do today, can join me at the U-M Natural History Museum, where they’ll be unveiling their new exhibit on whale evolution featuring the 50-foot-long skeleton of the 37 million year old Basilosaurus.

11 Comments

I’ve heard of this before and while I’m not angry (usually) and not anti-social, I definitely feel way too old. Nevertheless, if there is ever an Old Person’s Old Skool for the Slightly Angry, I’d be in.
Seriously, it’s a cool idea and I hope they swag out today in a stupid way (the kids tell me that this is a good thing)

I like the idea of a free school. I’d love to learn some stuff about butchering, canning, hunting, sewing, carpentry, and any number of other things. Maybe when the people start rising up, we can seize one of Ypsi’s recently decommissioned schools and turn it into a free college.

Given the recent push to eliminate child labor laws, the Free School is proving to be way ahead of the times. In the new economy, learning about butchering, canning, hunting, sewing, carpentry, will put these kids way ahead of the outdated public school emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic! (I humbly suggest they add shoe shining and utensil sanitization to the curriculum. Andy C’s idea is good, too.)

Come learn vegetable gardening basics from an experienced master
gardener! Melissa Kesterson is an experienced organic gardener,
past-director of local non-profit Project Grow, and a lead master
gardener helping support congregations growing for donation in Food
Gatherer’s Faith and Food program this year!